Rouge Marble/Nu Image Films
Released January 25, 2008
Luckily for last months Oscar winners John Rambo aka Rambo 4 aka Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra was not released until after the 2007 deadline. Sly Stallone triumphantly returns to the screen to play the simple, barbaric and nostalgic character John Rambo. Stallone is no stranger to playing roles created a quarter of a century ago (Rocky Balboa aka Rocky VI in 2006) and his aging is hardly noticeable thanks to countless cycles of designer steroids combined with plastic surgery. Today Stallone is still a major action star thanks to his willingness to play roles from the Regan administration to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Hollywood hiatus. The Rock is the closest thing we have to mega-action hero today and he is simply too good of an actor (trained by the astute WWF) to play the roles that Sly and Arnold did.
As I watched Rambo IV for the first time I was excited to see who the 21st-Century John Rambo was and I wondered what a twenty year break would do to such a complex character. When I read in the opening credit sequence that Stallone co-wrote and directed this fine film, a comforting feeling came over my mind and body. Remembering First Blood (1982) aka Rambo which is a great movie, First Blood Part II aka Rambo 2 which is a typical awful 80’s action piece of crap and then Rambo: First Blood Part III which is possibly one of the worst action movies ever; I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in awe of Rambo IV: Pearl of the Cobra. This is a well done, semi-realistic film that kept me on the edge of my seat while consistently blurting out “Holy…” and other assorted exclamations.
The plot is simple. The film begins with a montage of graphic footage of Burmese soldiers abusing and murdering people. Next we witness John Rambo in Thailand catching snakes (Cobras) and selling them to a Thai amusement park with snake charmers. Rambo also demonstrates bow-fishing and sharing as he gives local Buddhist’s fish he caught. Just up the river is war-torn Burma where the military in power is ravishing the country attempting to annihilate the Karin people (a minority). When American missionaries are captured by the Burmese military, Rambo escorts mercenaries to Burma to rescue them. The priceless quote that defines the movie is, “When you’re pushed, killing is as easy as breathing.”
Rambo introduces himself as “John” and the mercenaries refer to him as “boat man”. I think it is ironic and interesting that the name Rambo is not present in the script. If you like action movies then do not miss Rambo IV! It is a return to the gory glory days of human flesh being torn apart and more gunfire than words. If you miss the 80’s/90’s senseless violence and the lack of plot movies this is for you. The happy ending is great because it leaves enough of an opening for a fifth part of the First Blood series. My only question is whether John Rambo will be freeing his fellow elderly people from abusive orderlies at a nursing home or organizing violent protests against AARP and Social Security organizations in Rambo V.
4 out of 4
(Review by tee diddee)
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